surround

1 of 2

verb

sur·​round sə-ˈrau̇nd 

surrounded; surrounding; surrounds

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to enclose on all sides : envelop

the crowd surrounded her

(2)

: to enclose so as to cut off communication or retreat : invest entry 2

b

: to form or be a member of the entourage of

flatterers who surround the king

c

: to constitute part of the environment of

surrounded by poverty

d

: to extend around the margin or edge of : encircle

a wall surrounds the old city

2

: to cause to be surrounded by something

surrounded himself with friends

surround

2 of 2

noun

: something (such as a border or ambient environment) that surrounds

from urban centre to rural surround

—Emrys Jones

Synonyms

Verb

• encircle
• encompass
• circle
• embrace
• ring
• enclose

Noun

• surroundings
• environment
• atmosphere
• environs
• climate
• context

Examples of surround in a Sentence

Verb

A wall surrounds the old city.

They had the suspect surrounded.

She was suddenly surrounded by a crowd of excited fans.

There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the decision.

His departure was surrounded by secrecy.

Noun

the vast, featureless surround of the desert was strangely appealing to him

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Jets also failed twice to convert on two-point conversions, once in the first half (Braelon Allen was stuffed) and again in the fourth quarter — after needlessly burning a timeout, Fields forced a throw to Wilson, surrounded by three defensive backs, in the back right corner of the end zone. —Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

While the visual language might evolve, the desire to surround ourselves with meaning, history, and beauty isn’t going to change. —Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2025

Noun

Much of the focus since the Premier League’s newest venue opened last month has understandably been on its space-age design, and how this temple of glass and steel near the mouth of the River Mersey looks so out of place with its surrounds. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

The post shows what claims to be an iPhone 17 chassis made of metal, with the surrounds for the iPhone’s cameras and the camera panel itself made of metal, not glass. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to flood, inundate, from Anglo-French surunder, from Late Latin superundare, to overflow, from Latin super- + unda wave; influenced in meaning by round entry 5 — more at water

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing surround

• surround oneself with (someone or something)
• surround sound

Rhymes for surround

• abound
• aground
• around
• astound
• background
• campground
• clothbound
• confound
• earthbound
• eastbound
• expound
• fairground

Kids Definition

surround

1 of 2 verb

sur·​round sə-ˈrau̇nd 

: to enclose on all sides : encircle

surround

2 of 2 noun

: something (as a border) that surrounds